Federal Funding Opportunities for Local Government

Now is the time to be preparing for the upcoming federal funding cycle. Last year Congress funded 10,160 projects and federal agencies distributed more than $400 billion in grant dollars. Does your city, county or town: Get its share of federal resources? Working with a federal advocate can help your community:

Attend the Local Clean Energy / Climate Leadership Summit

Climate Communities is hosting the second annual Local Clean Energy / Climate Leadership Summit in Washington, DC on May 24-26, 2010. The purpose of the summit is to continue to build the partnership between local communities and the federal government with a focus on continuing to develop additional federal tools and resources to empower local climate action.

Register by May 1 to get 20% off registration fees! Use registration code: climate9 when you register.

Weekly Conference Call Topic: DOE EECBG Retrofit Ramp-Up

Join Climate Communities this Friday, April 30th, at 2 p.m. Eastern for a discussion on how local governments in the Southeastern United States are working together to implement a regional building retrofit strategy capable of market transformation. The call will showcase the efforts of the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, which was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of 25 communities that will receive up to $452 million in competitive Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Retrofit Ramp-Up funding to accelerate energy efficiency building retrofits. Joining us on Friday’s call will be Councilmember Randy Gilliland from the City of Hampton, Virginia. Hampton, as well as cities in 10 southeastern states, are partnering with the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance to dramatically increase the effectiveness of building retrofits across the region.

There is no cost to attend, but you must register to participate. Click Here to register.

Millions in Grants Available to Localities

The Obama Administration has launched a “Sustainable Communities” initiative that is providing resources to local governments through the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Commerce and other federal agencies. The Ferguson Group is working closely with the federal officials leading these programs, and helping clients understand how to put them to use in your communities.

These new programs and resources are summarized below. Many have upcoming deadlines. A PDF containing more detailed information about all of these programs can be found here.

$575 Million in Second Tiger Round

The U.S. Department of Transportation will be providing approximately $635 million in new grants to local and state governments to support roadway and transit projects that promote economic competitiveness, livability, environmental sustainability, safety, repair of existing facilities, innovation and partnerships. Under this new NII program, also known as “TIGER II grants”, DOT will provide $400 million in transportation construction grants to urban communities, $140 million in transportation construction grants to rural communities, and $35 million in grants for transportation planning. Minimum grant projects will be $10 million for urban communities and $1 million for rural communities, with an average grant size expected at approximately $20-30 million.

HUD to Announce New Grant Competition

HUD is preparing to announce a new grant competition to provide $100,000,000 in “Sustainable Community Planning Grants” for regional metropolitan organizations and localities for sustainable community planning and implementation projects. The HUD funding will support the development of Sustainable Regional Development Plans and/or implementation strategies that integrate transportation, housing, economic development, water infrastructure, and environmental planning. Such a Regional Plan will build on existing Consolidated Plans, Long Range Transportation Plans, and/or Stormwater Master Plans.

EPA "Area-Wide Brownfield Grants"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a new program to provide $20 million for $175,000 grants and significant technical assistance to up to 20 projects for a new “Area-Wide Planning Grants” program, which will allow localities to plan sustainable reuse in neighborhoods and corridors with multiple brownfields or one large brownfield (such as a closed automotive plant). Applications are due June 1.

EPA Climate Showcase Community Grants

The U.S. EPA is preparing to announce the availability of a second round of $10 million in “Climate Showcase Communities” grants for local governments to establish and implement innovative climate change initiatives. EPA is seeking proposals to create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective and persistent greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, or social conditions in a community. It is expected that EPA could award up to 20 grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 in 2010.

Jobs Creation Grants

Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration “Global Climate Change Mitigation Incentive Fund Grants” – The Economic Development Administration is providing $25 million in grants to local governments to support jobs-creation projects involving renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and reuse/recycling/restoration projects. These grants, which can support strategy development through construction phases, must involve either development and/or manufacturing of a green product, greening of an existing function or process, or creation or renovation of a LEED-certified or other green building.

Public Transit Grant Opportunities

FTA Announces Availability of Funding for Energy Efficient Public Transit Projects –The Federal Transit Administration issued a Notice of Funding Availability for two grant programs intended to support capital investment to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions: Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) and the Clean Fuels Grant program. TIGGER proposals must be submitted to FTA by August 11, 2010 whereas Clean Fuels grants must be submitted by June 14, 2010.

Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities Program – $81 million is available for a Clean Fuels grant competition. Traditionally this program was developed to assist non-attainment or maintenance areas achieve air quality standards, but the FTA is expanding the eligible applicant pool and may fund projects that meet the Clean Fuels Grant program objectives in attainment areas as well.

Round II TIGGER Grants – $75 million is available for round II of the TIGGER grants. Funding is open to public transit agencies for capital investments that will reduce the energy consumption of greenhouse gas emissions of their public transportation systems. Only public transit agencies or State DOTs may apply.